Well, they’re off to seventh and fourth grades! (The youngest, who, of course, jumped into another photo, is headed to Mother’s Day Out tomorrow.)

As my family of five sat on our porch eating our hod podge dinner Sunday night, Greg asked us what we had learned this summer. Sunday nights are always bittersweet for me as I transition from a weekend mentality to preparing for the week ahead, but this was the last one before school started today so extra feelings were surfacing.

I loved that Greg asked the question, though.

Our answers ranged from food discoveries to my more emotional answers about grief and belonging to books we loved to practical solutions around the house. We joked and remembered and listed joy after joy.

Here are some of the things we learned, collectively and individually:

Springs of water can come through an asphalt driveway and make quite a mess. (Any solutions to this one welcome …)

Trapping wasps is possible but they’re still sneaky enough to make their homes in small places they aren’t wanted.

Burgers are delicious cooked in a cast-iron skillet on the stove. So are steak bites.

New-to-us book series and authors are always welcomed. One child and I read a lot of fiction books, which is no surprise. And another child learned the joy of reading when we limited TV and other screens. (I have been devouring Colleen Hoover books. Cate found a new-to-her series called “The Unwanteds.” And Ben has been reading like never before.)

Hospitality heals. I know this, but I was invited in when I needed a break from initiating plans. (Read more about that.)

Home is where I needed to be many of the #88daysofsummer, but now I’m looking forward to some trips this fall.

We learned plenty more about each other – as a family and individually. And I’m in the midst of processing grief and anxiety and motherhood, but, for now, I’m grateful God gave me a fresh perspective and ushered us into a new season of life and school together.

Even in my favorite season, I’ve hit some bumps. I’m enough of an extrovert that I’ve always created the community I crave. But, honestly, I haven’t had the energy to invest in relationships, so this summer has been filled with my few closest friends and whoever invited me into their life.

Kristen Strong’s encouragement and guidance in “Back Roads to Belonging: Unexpected Paths to Finding Your Place and Your People” helped me find my place in my own season of letting roots sink in more deeply while learning new things, processing how sorrow and hope can co-exist, and finding renewed perspective in belonging right where I am. She’s spurred me on to seek God’s beauty and adventure right in front of me. While doing so, God filled my soul when I feel empty and reminded me of his promises for me and my place with Him.

One of the gifts this summer was a Bible study my friend Megan hosted. Honestly, I shy away from regular commitments in the summer, but I knew when she asked me about it in the spring that I wanted to go. I didn’t anticipate backing off from some of my usual invitations to others. I didn’t realize sorrow could lead to feelings of not belonging. I didn’t know at the time I would need for someone to welcome me in. (Plus I’ve learned a lot from studying Hebrews.)

This summer has definitely been a season of growing down, letting roots sink in more deeply while learning new things about myself and my family. My tendency is to make plans and invite people over and fill the wide-open spaces. But this summer I drew the circle a little smaller and found fresh perspective in belonging right where I am.

“The specifics of how we relax in this growing down season aren’t important. Using the time and not wasting it is. This is not the time to fret about growing up or out to be seen in our belonging place. This is the season to be known by growing down, to build a stronger sense of belonging that is rooted in Christ, in whom our closeness overshadows our place here on earth.”

Kristen’s words in that paragraph and her whole book came when I needed them most. I preordered “Back Roads to Belonging” long before this season and then I received a copy for being on the launch team. It’s one of those books that literally feels good to hold and figuratively feels good for your soul.

I actually gave my early copy away to my friend Becky who moved at the end of July because she’s been important to my belonging — to this season, to this community, and to Christ. (I also gave her a copy of the mix I made for myself because I needed to hear truths of about how sorrow & hope could mingle together. Here’s that playlist, if you’re interested.)

My friendship with Becky surprised me in the sweetest ways this summer because I didn’t see all our conversations and time around tables coming. But God knew. He knew I needed her wisdom and authenticity. He knew she needed to belong in a different way too. He knew things we haven’t even learned yet because that’s how he provides and sustains us in our eternal belonging.

I’m grateful for my own back roads, Kristen’s words, and the belonging that happens here. As my kids head back to school and we fall into a different routine, I’ve still got belonging on my mind. So here’s to saying yes to others, welcoming others in even when it looks different than expected, and believing hospitality matters because it helps heal.

So, in Kristen’s words: “When you believe you’re in a season of wandering around a barren belonging landscape, may you know you don’t wander purposelessly. God is aware of every bump and bend, and Jesus walks with you through every setback and delay. May you never stop participating in your own life, even through the mystery — because God is moving for you in your life. May you remember Jesus was brought outside so you could be brought inside forever.”

About the author & book

Kristen Strong, author of “Girl Meets Change,” writes as a friend offering meaningful encouragement for each season of life so you can see it with more hope and less worry. She and her U.S. Air Force veteran husband, David, have three children. Together this military family zigzagged across the country (and one ocean) several times before settling in Colorado Springs, Colorado. You can find her at her website, DaySpring’s (in)courage, and on Instagram.

Giveaway

And I’m sharing a copy of this book with one of you. Thanks for being here and sharing pieces of your story. Use the Rafflecopter below for various entries. I’ll randomly choose a winner Tuesday, Aug. 13.

Hey, #PorchStories friends! I’ve missed you. So let’s gather together and catch up. Other friends here, welcome! And I hope you stay awhile.

Oh, March Madness, you’re the best – in the basketball sense and in the seasonal sense as days warm up and the world becomes greener. As winter fades, I’m always grateful to live in a place where we truly have four seasons – sometimes in the same week – and get to remember how nothing stays the same.

Before you’re gone, let’s capture these March days.

Highlights

One of our favorite weekends of the year as a family is going to Evansville, Indiana, to watch our beloved Murray State Racers in the Ohio Valley Conference Tournament. Whoever wins get an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament, so we especially loved watching our Racers win two exciting games to clinch the title. (Here’s a post about how being a sports fan helps me be a better mom. It’s true.)

Of course, we’ve loved watching basketball. Our Racers have never made it to the Sweet Sixteen, but we certainly enjoyed their rout of Marquette in the first round behind the amazing performance of Ja Morant, who’s predicted to go early in the NBA Draft as a sophomore.

We spent another weekend at the lake to celebrate my best friend Jaclyn’s birthday. The weather was nicer than we expected and the six kids who are currently 12, 11, 10, 9, 8, and 3 played outside for hours and hours. Us adults played many games of Settlers of Catan while watching basketball. It was such a soul-refreshing weekend and a good time to get our vacation rental at Kentucky Lake ready for the renters coming this spring and summer.

Favorite things

Jockey Being Family backpacks – My kids had the best time unpacking the personalized backpacks our friends at Jockey Being Family sent them and I was glad to learn more about this incredible foundation that supports adoptive families. (Read more about what their backpacks contained and how we befriended these fine folks.)

California Design Den sheets – I randomly was asked if I wanted to review some sheets and the timing was perfect because I put them on my bed right after the time change during a week when my sleep was especially disjointed. Even weeks later, we still love them. (Read more about them.)

QuiFit water bottle – A friend of mine posted about her enormous water bottle a few times and I was totally intrigued because I needed something to encourage me to drink more water. My friend has the 128-ounce bottle, but I didn’t think I’d haul that around with me so I ended up getting the 64-ounce one. It’s still big to take with me, but it has worked well. After a couple of weeks, I’m drinking every ounce each day. I love the time markers down the side and the words of encouragement to keep on drinking water. It really helps me pace myself throughout the day.

From the bookshelf

“When We Were Worthy” by Marybeth Mayhew Whalen – It’s been on my list for a while and I got nervous about the story starting with teenagers in a car wreck because I’m super sensitive to that sort of thing since becoming a mom. But I’m glad it read it. The story is told well from different characters’ points of view. As the characters process what happened, the reader learns more about one night in a town called Worthy. Suspense and compassion are intertwined in this well-written story.

“He Said / She Said” by Erin Kelly – I found myself staying up late last night, reading while blow drying my hair this morning, and wanting to ignore the rest of the world this afternoon to finish this book. Obviously, it’s a good one. The suspenseful story reflects on an incident 15 years earlier and its ripple effects in present day. Going back and forth between the years adds to the suspense and surprises.

“If God Is For Us: The Everlasting Truth of Our Great Salvation” by Trillia Newbell – I’m working through this six-week study on Romans 8 and really loving it. Two decades ago, God first drew me to him through Romans 8:28, so I’m learning so much about the context of that promise through this study. I wrote a longer review of this book and have a giveaway happening (HERE) this week. Go on and enter, my friends!

On the screen

With March Madness games and plenty of exciting basketball, we are a little behind in our usual shows, but “Blacklist” has been especially good lately. I’m also excited to watch “The Village,” a new show awaiting me on my DVR. My oldest girl and I have been into the “The Voice” and “Survivor.”

Let’s Connect

About Me

Telling stories is my therapy and love sharing with friends on my porch.

The main characters in my stories are my entrepreneur husband, our fifth-grade girl who never forgets, our have-no-fear second-grade boy, and our joy-filled toddler girl. As we live out our stories, we seek God as the author of them all.